Why a Makerspace?

Have you ever seen something in a store or
online and thought, “How clever! That
would be perfect for my home.” And then
you looked at the price. Yikes! Or went ahead and splurged only to discover
that your unique item looks suspiciously like your neighbor’s. For many, the idea of “buying” has become far
less appealing and the idea of Do It Yourself (DIY) is gaining popularity.

Consider the explosion of online sites
like Pinterest, Hometalk, and Etsy.
These sites present options with everything for people to “hack” their
lives with DIY home projects, to paying someone else to create a one-of-a-kind
item for them. There is broad appeal across
age groups, income, and skill levels.

Equally prevalent? All those memes and DIY Fails on social
media. Admit it. You’ve probably laughed until you cried at
some poor soul’s attempt to replicate the trendy project they found online (the
demonic bunnies below make me crack up every time!).

Expected DIY Result

DIY Reality

DIY Fail

Photo
credits: Good Housekeeping, July 27, 2015

Have you thought of tackling a DIY project
but immediately dismissed the idea? There
are typically three reasons why people never fully consider starting a DIY
project: lack of space, lack of tools,
lack of know-how.

And this is where a Makerspace can
help! The right makerspace, like My Own
2 Hands, can remove those barriers.

Space

Spacious and bright work space, coffee bar

With 6,000 square
feet, lots of natural light, and plenty of workbenches, there is space for you
to tackle any DIY project. No more squeezing
your project onto a corner of the kitchen table or losing the ability to park
your car in the garage. Our makerspace
is welcoming, bright, and not at all like high-school woodshop!

Tools

All of these tools, plus all the hand tools not pictured

The analogy I always think of is my spice
rack at home. Of course there are the
spices I use on a frequent basis. But
the back of the rack is jammed with spice jars and tins that have been used
only once for some ambitious recipe I wanted to try. Tools, the right tools, can make all the
difference in how much easier a project can be.
But tools can be expensive. No
reason to buy a tool you may only use once and then have to figure out where to
store it. We have just about any tool
you would need for your projects.

Know-How

Talented and helpful – these mentors are here for you!

Yes, space and tools
are important. But the greatest value a makerspace
like My Own 2 Hands can provide is expert support. Onsite mentors are always available to help
as much or as little as you need. If you
know what you’re doing, mentors can just be an extra set of hands if you
need. But if the only thing you know is what
you want your project to look like, our mentors will help every step of the way. So set aside those fears of being the latest
example of a DIY Fail!

Makerspaces Are Perfect For . . .

Apartment
Renters. At two totally different stages of life, Millennials
and Downsizers have something in common.
They both opt to live in high-density residential communities (as do a
multitude of other age groups and income levels). What they gain in location and convenience, they
sacrifice in space. Apartment complexes prohibit
their residents from using their patios or garages for DIY projects. Who better to take advantage of a makerspace
than apartment residents!

Home
Owners. You’re probably thinking these are the last
people who would need a makerspace. Real
stories from real customers. Yes, they
have space in a garage or basement. The
drawbacks? They have to move all the
cars out of the garage and then get the tools pulled out and set-up. Then when they are finished working on their
project, they have to clean everything up, stow away all of the tools, and then
move the cars back into the garage. The amount
of time spent before and after often rivals the amount of time they actually
get to spend working on their project. And
what if they live in a really hot or really cold climate? And what about dust collection? And what about maintaining all the
tools? That’s right, a makerspace is
perfect for home owners!

Augmenters. These are the lucky few who have a dedicated
space for their workshop. It may be
well-lit, have climate control, and be outfitted with a dust collection
system. Surely these people don’t need a
makerspace? That may be true the
majority of the time. But where a makerspace
can really help is the ability to augment what these enthusiasts already
have. A good makerspace, like My Own 2
Hands, will likely have well-maintained, industrial size tools that most home
workshops cannot afford or do not have room for.

Social
Butterflies. The pursuit of a hobby can be a solitary or
lonely endeavor. Not so with a makerspace. Makerspaces create communities of like-minded
people. There are always people to
bounce ideas off of, someone else from whom to get inspiration, or just someone
to have a cup of coffee with while waiting on part of your project to dry. Some makerspaces, like My Own 2 Hands, also
offer classes. These are often highly
social and fun experiences to try your hand at a new project or learn a new
skill. There is no reason to toil in
solitude. Makerspaces are the hotbed of
mutual admiration societies!

Are there other individuals or groups of people who would enjoy and get value from a makerspace? Of course. What about you? Do you want the ability to customize projects to your space and style? Do you want to be savvy and save money? Do you want to feel empowered? A makerspace is for you!